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II.
WOODLAND
II.A.4.N.a. Rounded-crowned
temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen
woodland
II.A.4.N.a.28. PINUS TAEDA WOODLAND ALLIANCE
Loblolly Pine Woodland Alliance
Concept: Woodlands of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains
dominated by Pinus taeda. In the Atlantic Coastal Plain, natural examples of
this alliance include maritime woodlands of barrier islands that occur on foredunes. Trees in these maritime woodlands often have multiple trunks and
spreading branches. Herbaceous cover is usually low. Canopy associates include Quercus phellos, Quercus falcata, and Quercus virginiana. One rare community in
this alliance occurs on swamp islands protected from fire in the Mid-Atlantic
Coastal Plain. Associated species include Quercus hemisphaerica, Osmanthus
americanus var. americanus, Ilex glabra, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Persea palustris,
and Quercus nigra. Other associations, including some vegetation of Louisiana,
result from thinning of plantations, or disturbance by fire of Pinus taeda
forests. One other semi-natural example occurs on military reservations and is
at least in part the result of fires set by military training. It may occur both
within or outside of the natural range of Pinus palustris. In the former case,
it is present where Pinus palustris has failed to regenerate.
Range: This alliance is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and Virginia, and possibly Oklahoma
(?), South Carolina (?), Delaware (?), and elsewhere.
States/Provinces: AL DE FL GA MD NC SC VA
TNC Ecoregions: 40:P, 41:C, 43:P, 52:C, 53:C, 56:C, 57:C, 58:C
USFS Ecoregions: 231B:PP, 231Ef:PP?, 231Eg:PP?, 231Ei:PP?,
232Ac:CCC, 232Ba:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Ch:CCC, 232Dc:CCC,
232Fa:CCC, 234Ah:???
Federal Lands: DOD (Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Benning, Fort Pickett);
NPS (Assateague Island); USFS (Angelina, Apalachicola, Davy Crockett, Kisatchie,
Sabine NF, Sam Houston, Tuskegee?); USFWS (St. Marks?)
Synonymy: Loblolly Pine: 81, in part (Eyre 1980)
References: Eyre 1980
Authors: D.J. ALLARD, RW, Southeast Identifier: A.526
PINUS TAEDA / HUDSONIA TOMENTOSA WOODLAND
Loblolly Pine / Woolly Beach-heather Woodland
G1G2 (98-12-02)
Ecological Group (SCS;MCS):
Southeastern Coastal Plain
Maritime Stable Dune Forests and Woodlands (240-50; n/a)
Concept: This maritime woodland
occurs on sand dunes of barrier islands in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
Soils in this community are sandy and rapidly drained. This community often
occurs directly adjacent to actively shifting foredunes and is exposed to salt
spray, winds, and storms. The community also occurs on unstable sands of
protected backdunes. In the denser woodlands, more pine duff accumulates, and
herb diversity and cover are generally higher. Where woodlands are more open and
trees sparse, growing conditions are harsh, less duff accumulates, and vast
areas of exposed white sand are characteristic. Trees are generally
characterized by low spreading branches and multiple trunks. A shrub layer is
lacking; herbaceous cover is usually low. Pinus taeda dominates the
canopy, but hardwoods such as Quercus falcata, Quercus phellos, and
Ilex opaca are frequent. Younger, smaller pines make up a sparse subcanopy.
Tall shrubs are also sparse, although an occasional Morella cerifera (=
Myrica cerifera), Pinus taeda sapling, or Vaccinium corymbosum can be
found. Sparse low shrubs of Hudsonia tomentosa are more common. Smilax
glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, and Toxicodendron radicans are typical
vines. Herbs are sparse, yet much varied. Andropogon virginicus is
commonly present. The typical pattern of herb distribution is on dry open sand,
in direct sunlight. Here, small patches of Dichanthelium acuminatum,
Dichanthelium scoparium, Andropogon virginicus, Eupatorium rotundifolium,
Erigeron sp., Euthamia caroliniana (= Euthamia tenuifolia), Solidago
sempervirens, Aristida tuberculosa, Polygonella articulata, and
Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium) are typically
mixed with scattered Hudsonia tomentosa and Smilax rotundifolia.
This community ranges from Delaware south along the coast to Virginia.
Comments: This community gained
greater extent in some areas of Virginia and North Carolina barrier beaches
following logging (Schafale and Weakley 1990, Higgins et al. 1971, Bratton and
Davison 1987).
Range: This maritime woodland
occurs on sand dunes of barrier islands in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
States/Provinces: DE:S1?, MD:S?,
VA:S?
TNC Ecoregions: 58:C
USFS Ecoregions: 232Ac:CCP,
232Bt:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Ch:CCC
Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague
Island)
Synonymy: Pine woodland (Higgins et
al. 1971) B. Assateague Island., Woodland community (Hill 1986) B.
Assateague Island. References: Berdine 1998, Bowman 2000, Bratton and
Davison 1987, Clampitt 1991, Fleming et al. 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill
1986, Klotz 1986, Schafale and Weakley 1990, TNC 1995c
Authors: A. Berdine, ECS
Confidence: 1 Identifier: CEGL006052 - Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report II. Woodland
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